Belarus, Ukraine agree to swap journalist Sharoiko – media

The release is planned through Sharoiko's exchange for a citizen of Belarus Yuriy Politika, who is also suspected of espionage, but in Ukraine.

Photo from UNIAN

Ukraine may ensure the return of a Belarusian-based correspondent of UA: Ukrainian Radio and former UNIAN correspondent in Minsk, Ukrainian citizen Pavlo Sharoiko, who was detained in Belarus on October 25 on suspicion of espionage.

According to Belarus Partisan, a certain agreement was allegedly reached "at a meeting of high-ranking representatives of Belarus and Ukraine" and documents have already been prepared signed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

In addition, it is reported that the release is planned through Sharoiko's swap for a citizen of Belarus Yuriy Politika, who is also suspected of espionage, but in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda asked Politika's lawyers for comments. However, they have not yet commented on this report, noting that a trial against the Belarusian citizen will take place on March 27 and it would be wrong to speak up on anything ahead of time.

Read alsoBelarusian KGB recruits Ukrainian man to spy on border guards, law enforcers – mediaAs UNIAN reported earlier, it became known on November 17 that the Belarusian KGB detained Sharoiko on October 25. According to Ukrainian Ambassador to Belarus Ihor Kizim, Sharoiko was accused of espionage and kept in custody at the KGB remand prison. The Belarusian security agency claimed that Sharoiko is a career staff employee of the Ukrainian intelligence service. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Department confirmed that Sharoiko had headed the department's media liaison office but he resigned in 2009 for health reasons.